Discharge device



. Aug. 28, 1956] W. B. WEBB DISCHARGE DEVICE Filed Aug. 12, 1954 '6 FIG./

INVENTOR WILBUR B. WEBB ATTORNEYS United States Patent DISCHARGE DEVICE Wilbur B. Webb, Grand Prairie, Tex.

Application August 12, 1954, Serial No. 449,533

7 Claims. (Cl. 340-385) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the pay ment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to a device for discharging or firing explosive shells and the like, and is more particularly concerned with a novel device for firing signal shells, particularly useful at installations such as airports. 7 It often happens that when an aircraft is in the process of landing at an airport, and the pilot has received his landing instructions from the radio tower, an emergency arises while the aircraft is making its landing approach when it is necessary to suddenly wave oil the landing plane by warning the pilot in some manner not to land. Such an emergency may arise, for example, when the landing gear of the plane, without the pilots knowledge, is not properly extended for a landing, or because of unsafe field conditions.

Under these circumstances, in order for the tower control man to give the aircraft an emer ency waveoff, he must quickly attempt to relay a signal through his radio microphone telling the pilot not to land. Howcver, at a busy airport, this may not be possible because the frequency may be in use. The only alternative is for the tower control man to run outside the tower and fire a flare or shell into the air. from a signaling pistol. However, since the pilot would have already received his landing instructions, he would be concerned with executing his landing and might not even see the discharged signal shell, causing him to land with consequent possible damage to his or other aircraft, and possible injury to persons or even loss of life.

One object of this invention is to provide a novel device for firing explosive shells, particularly signal shells.

Another object is the provision of novel structure in the form of a signaling device especially for use at airfields, and which may be remotely controlled to facilitate its operation.

Still another object is to provide a device of the foregoing type for firing explosive signal shells or flares, which is simple in structure and operation, comparatively inexpensive to make and install, and is dependable.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a view partly in section and partly broken away, illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 represents a component of the device of Fig 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation ofcertain structural components forming a unit of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram for thedevice, shown in conjunction with certain structural components thereof;

Fig. 5 shows a modification of certain elements of the device of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 shows one of the elements of Fig. 5.

The device according to one embodiment of the in-' vention comprises briefly a housing having a removable closure or top member with an aperture therein. A firing chamber adapted to accommodate an explosive shcli is mounted within the housing in alignment with the aperture. Means is provided for enclosing the aperture in the top member, such means being removable by the shell on firing thereof. Mechanism including a firing pin is disposed in the housing for detonating a shell in the firing chamber, and means for actuating the firing pin is also provided. Further, means is afforded which cooperates with the top member to permit operation of the aforementioned actuating means only when such member is in position on the housing. This device can be remotely controlled, and is especially useful as an emergency signaling device at an airport, enabling instant operation of such device by a tower control man at his station for discharging a signal shell or flare in an emergency.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing, numeral 19 represents anenclosed four sided housing having a bottom member 12. The housing is provided with a removable top or root 14 having sloping sides 16 to provide drainage in the event of rain or precipitation, the unit being normally placed outside and exposed to the elements when employed for signaling purposes at an airport. Top 14 is secured by means of downwardly sloping brackets l8 to a firing chamber 20 adapted to accommodate an explosive shell 22, e. g. a so-called Very signal shell. An aperture 24 is located at the apex of top id and in alignment with the firing chamber to perrnit ready passage of a shell exteriorly of the housing on firing said shell out of the firing chamber.

It is thus noted that top 14 and its associated firing chamber are in the form of a single unit, as seen in Fig. 3, which can be readily placed in position over the housing and removed therefrom by means of suitable conventional fasteners 26, the firing chamber being disposed in a vertical position with its lower portion resting in a support structure 27 when such unit is assembled in the housing. On its lower surface adjacent one end of top 14 is a lug 28 which, when the top is placed on the housing and fastened thereto, makes contact with an arm 3i) of electric switch 32 for a purpose more fully described hereinafter. A cone shaped cover 3 3 (see Fig. 2') is adapted to be placed over the aperture 24 in the top member to prevent rain or precipitation from entering the interior of the housing when the top is positioned thereon. Attached to cover 34 is a downwardly extending wire 36 having a loop 33 at its lower end which is adapted to rest on top of the shell 22 in the firing chamber. When the shell is fired cover 34 shoots clear of the device, and must ordinarily be replaced after each shot.

The firing mechanism of the device comprises a firing pin 40 mounted within an aperture 37 in a horizontal guide member 41 for vertically sliding movement below the firing chamber, the firing pin being adapted to strike the primer of a shell within the chamber to energize the shell. Secured to the lower end of the firing pin is an elongated member 42 which is arranged to move up and down within apertures 39 and 43 of guide members 44 and 45, respectively, guide members 41, ad and 45 being attached to braces 46 and 4-7 of structure 2'7. These guide members are in the form of fiat plates having an aperture in the center thereof. A stop 48 is secured to member 42 intermediate its ends and a spring 50 is disposed about such member betwce stop 48 and the lowermost guide member 45. Thus, the firing pin and its associated member 42 may be urged downwardly against the action of spring 50 to compress same and place the necessary tension on the 3 firing pin and on release, the firing pin and member 42 move upward until stop 48 strikes the lower surface of intermediate guide member 44, at which time the upper end of the firing pin engages the primer of the shell in the firing chamber, the end of the firing pin for this pur pose passing through an aperture (not shown) in an upper member 52 of structure 27 supporting the lower end of the firing chamber.

Attached to the lower end of the firing pin above elongated member 42 is an intermediate member 54 having pivotally connected thereto at 56 a cocking lever 55 which is also pivotally attached at 60 to one of the braces 47 of support structure 27. The firing pin is urged downwardly to cock it against the action of spring 50 by pivoting the outer portion of lever 58 upwardly. Member 54 is provided with a notch 62 adapted to be engaged by the end of a trigger 64 associated with a solenoid 66, to maintain the firing pin in cocked position.

Solenoid 66 is positioned on a member 63 secured at one end to brace 46 of support structure 2'7 and supported at the other end by a bracket 70 connected to one of the inner walls of the housing. Trigger 6 i is made integral at its outer end with core 72 of the solenoid and is horizontally movable therewith. The opposite end of the solenoid core has a stop member 74 connected thereto, and between stop 74 and an abutment 76 is disposed a compression spring 78 which normally urges the solenoid core and the attached trigger 64 inwardly to maintain the free end thereof in engagement with notch 62 associated with firing pin 40. When the solenoid is energized, the trigger and solenoid core move outwardly against the action of spring 78, releasing the trigger from contact with notch 62 and allowing the firing pin to move upwardly toward the firing chamber to energize the shell therein.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, solenoid 66 is energized by means of an electrical circuit having an external power source and controlled by a remotely positioned switch 80. In order to prevent completion of the circuit to energize the solenoid before top 14 with the firing chamber 20 attached thereto is in position on the housing, switch 32 is placed in series with the solenoid in such circuit. The switch comprises an arm or electrode 30 positioned for vertically sliding movement in an aperture 82 in the top of a casing 84, the lower portion of arm 30 being disposed within the casing. Intermediate the ends of arm 30 is a stop 86, and disposed about the lower portion of arm 30 between such stop and the bottom of the casing is a compression spring 88 normally urging arm 30 upwardly with stop 86 in contact with the inner upper surface of the casing so that the lower end 90 of arm 30 is spaced from an electrical contact 92 at the bottom of the casing.

Thus, it is seen that when top 14 and its associated structure is not in position on the housing of the device, the circuit cannot be completed to the solenoid to actuate the firing pin even if switch 80 is closed, thus preventing accidental tripping of solenoid trigger 64 and discharge of the device under these conditions. However, when top 14 is placed in position on the housing, lug 28 on the lower surface of top 14 forces arm 30 downward against the action of spring 88 to bring the lower end 90 of arm 30% into engagement with contact 92, thus permitting the circuit to the solenoid to be completed and the firing pin actuated to energize a shell, by closing switch 80. External leads 94 and 96 of the circuit are sheathed in a protecting conduit 98 and are brought into the interior of housing of the device by means of a packing nut 100.

Operation of the device of Figs. 1 to 4 is as follows:

One of these units may be placed adjacent an edge of an airport runway at a strategic place along the runway, for example about 300 feet from the approach end thereof, the lower portion of the device being embedded in the ground. Switch 80 of the device is opened, and holding top 14 and its associated firing chamber 20, in position with relation to housing 10, are loosened or unfastened and the structure shown inFig. 3 is removed from the housing. A signal shell 22 adapted to produce a colored glow on discharge thereof is then placed in the firing chamber and the top including the loaded chamber replaced on the housing by tightening fasteners 26. On replacement of top 14, switch 32 is caused to close due to downward movement of arm 30 by engagement with contact 92 as aforesaid. Cone shaped cover 34 is then placed in position over aperture 24 in top 14 with the wire loop 38 of such cover resting on the nose of the signal shell.

Cooking lever 58 is then pulled upwardly to cock the firing pin 40, i. e. cause it to move downward against the action of spring it). This movement results in the urging by the action of spring 78 of the end of trigger 64 into engagement with notch 62 of member 54 to maintain the firing pin in cocked position. With the unit thus set in readiness, if an aircraft making a landing approach should require an emergency wave-off, switch located in the control tower at the hand of the tower control man is immediately closed, causing the unit to fire its colored, e. g. red, signal shell which is at once seen by the pilot in time to enable him to clear the field without the danger of attempting a landing.

In a modification of the invention device, top14' shown in Fig. 5 does not contain an element such as lug 28 on the under surface of top 14 as seen in Figs. 1 and 3. Instead, the cone shaped cover 34' adapted to be positioned over the aperture 24 in top 14 has an elongated leaf spring 102 (see Fig. 6) connected to the apex 104 of cover 34' and positioned at an angle along the inner surface thcreof, the opposite end of the spring having a lug 28 connected thereto, which is adapted to make contact with the arm 30 of switch 32 for closing same.

According to this modification, a signal shell is placed in the firing chamber connected to top 14 after this unit has been removed from the housing, and cover 34 with its depending wire 36' is then placed over aperture 24' with spring 102 positioned along the inner surface of one of the sloping sides 16 of top 14', the tension on the spring maintaining it in contact with such side. When this unit including top 14' with its loaded firing chamber and cover 34' are positioned over housing 10 and properly fastened thereto, lug 28 engages arm 30 of switch 32, forcing its downward, and switch 32 is thus closed as in the device of Fig. 1. This modification insures that both top 14 and rain cover 34" are in proper position on the housing before switch 32 can be closed. Spring 102 is made of a highly ductile metal which will readily shear when the cover 34- is forced out of aperture 24 on discharge of a shell.

From all of the foregoing, it is seen that the invention provides an efl'icient, comparatively simple and inexpensive device, especially useful for the discharge of explosive signal shells or flares as an aircraft warning device at airfields. The device is remotely controllable, thus facili tating its operation for the aforementioned purpose, and is highly dependable. Of course the device may be employed for signalling purposes on the deck of a ship, or in any other locality where its usefulness as a signaling means may be taken advantage of. Further, the device may be employed for discharging explosive elements other than signal shells or flares.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A device which comprises a housing open at one end, a removable closure for the open end of said housing, said closure having an aperture therein, a firing chamber mounted within said housing in alignment with said aperture and adapted to accommodate an explosive shell, means enclosing said aperture and removable by said shell on firing thereof, means for energizing a shell disposed in said chamber, means for actuating said energizing means, and means cooperating with said closure to permit operation of said actuating means only when said closure is in position on said housing.

2. A device which comprises a housing open at one end, a removable closure for the open end of said housing, said closure having an aperture therein, a firing chamber mounted within said housing in alignment with said aperture and adapted to accommodate an explosive shell, means enclosing said aperture and removable by said shell on firing thereof, means for energizing a shell disposed in said chamber, solenoid means for actuating said energizing means, and switch means cooperating with said closure to permit operation of said solenoid means only when said closure is in position on said housmg.

3. A'device as defined in claim 2, wherein said switch means includes an elongated member secured at one end to said means for enclosing said aperture and adapted to close said switch means when said closure is in position on said housing.

4. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said closure and said firing chamber are connected together as a unit.

5. A signaling device which comprises a housing, a removable top member on said housing having an aperture therein, a firing chamber vertically mounted within said housing in alignment with said aperture and adapted to accommodate an explosive signal shell, means normally enclosing said aperture and removable by said shell on firing thereof, a firing pin mounted for vertically sliding movement below said firing chamber and adapted to energize a shell disposed in said chamber, spring means normally urging said firing pin toward said firing chamber, means for cocking said firing pin against the action of said spring, means for selectively maintaining said firing pin in cocked position, solenoid means for actuating said last mentioned means to release said cocking means and to actuate said firing pin, and switch means cooperating with the top member of said housing to permit operation of said solenoid means only when said member is in position on said housing.

6. A signaling device which comprises a housing, a removable top member on said housing having an aperture in about the center thereof, a firing chamber secured to said top member and vertically mounted within said housing in alignment with said aperture, said chamber being adapted to accommodate an explosive signal shell, a cover normally enclosing said aperture and removable by said shell on firing thereof, a firing pin mounted for vertically sliding movement below said firing chamber and adapted to energize a signal shell disposed in said chamber, a spring normally urging said firing pin toward said firing chamber, a lever for cocking said firing pin against the action of said spring, a trigger for selectively maintaining said firing pin in cocked position, a second I spring urging said trigger into position for the aforementioned purpose, a solenoid for actuating said trigger to release said firing pin from cocked position and permit same to energize said shell, electrical means for operating said solenoid, and a switch cooperating with the top member of said housing for closing the electrical circuit to said solenoid to permit operation thereof, said switch including a spring biased member in contact with and urged into position by said top member to close said switch only when said member is in position on said housing.

7. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein said cover is vcone shaped and has a downwardly extending member adapted to rest on the top of a shell disposed within said firing chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 950,956 Reed Mar. 1, 1910 1,042,490 Skinner Oct. 29, 1912 2,037,129 Hilts Apr. 14, 1936 

